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1. Write CV
STEP 1: PUTTING TOGETHER A KILLER CV!
If you are marketing yourself to agencies and potential employers, you need to ensure that your CV is of the highest quality, and that you are doing yourself justice by using it as a marketing tool. Here are some tips to putting your CV together - as well as an example further down the page of the type of CV you should be putting together.
Layout
Avoid fussy
borders, front pages and general layout issues which detract from your CV.
Use a simple font - Arial or Verdana is in 10 - 12 point, and try and include as
much detail as possible. 
Break your CV into logical areas and give these headings so the information is grouped together in a logical format:
- Personal Information
- Educational Details
- Summary of Experience
- Career History
- Project Summary
- Computer Experience.
Bear in mind the recruiter is probably going through hundreds of CVs, so find the easiest font to read, and the most efficient manner for the right information to come to the recruiter's attention.
If something is unclear, odds are the recruiter is not going to contact you to clarify, your CV will be discarded for someone else's whose details are more specific.
If, for example, the recruiter is looking for a university degree with a particular experience set, then ensure that information JUMPS out (highlight it - put it in bold!). If it is not obvious in the first 5 - 10 seconds then there is a good chance that your profile will be overlooked.
Contact Details
Ensure these are up-to-date - make sure you keep the same email address or cell number no matter what. Also remember that others may hang onto your cv for YEARS, so try not to change your email address or cell number.
Use an email address that you check often as this will probably be the most common method the recruiter is going to make contact with you - especially for international work.
Make sure that your current contact details are all listed - home number, work number, cell phone and alternate if necessary.
DO NOT put your contact details only on your covering letter or covering email address. Many companies and recruiters discard the covering notes and only keep the CV, so make sure that the contact information is on your CV.
Photograph
Often a recruiter is going to request a head and shoulders digital image to send along with your CV. It helps as a marketing tool and puts a face to your skills. Keep a basic photograph current that you can send along with your CV - especially for international work.
Do not scan in your ID photograph as these tend to look hideous at the best of times!
Project Work
A detailed breakdown of the projects you have worked is of paramount importance. Keep in mind that not every potential employer is immediately going to recognise the projects you have work on merely by giving the project name (unless of course it is an international icon like the Burj Al Arab Hotel in Dubai). You need to give at least a description, the cost of the project (in current terms) and the period of the project. If there are gaps in your project work, explain what you were doing in these gaps.
This is especially important when submitting your CV for international work.
Always keep your CV current - you never know when you are going to need it at short notice.
Additional Information
Include information that is going to be helpful to the recruiter or the potential employer - things like your present location, your notice period/availability, your salary range, whether you would look at permanent or contract work, etc.
Even if you are sending through your CV for one position, the recruiter is going to be looking at it in line with a range of other positions he/she is working on, so the more specific you can be the more roles you can be considered for.
Qualifications
The recruiter really is only interested in your highest qualifications - where obtained, and the year. Ideally keep a scan of your degrees/diplomas available to send along to the recruiter if necessary, but do not send them with the initial application.
Qualifications will often need to be verified before the confirmation of an offer of employment, so be sure you have the details from your university or technical school on hand.
Career/Work History
Start with your last job first. The most important issues are the company, the period you worked there and your position.
Good things to add are a basic description of the company and a list of your most important duties. Try to include details of who reported to you and who you reported to.
References
Ideally if you are able to obtain written one page references from projects that you have worked on, this is probably one of the most powerful methods of motivating your application. Scan them in and have them ready to email on request (don't send them with the initial application).
You will also need 3 - 5 contactable references which the potential employer or recruiter can contact. They need to be professional references - ideally people you have worked for. Make sure you keep this list updated, and give their names, positions, companies, contact numbers and email addresses. Make sure that you obtain permission from the references before giving out their names - also have some idea of what they are going to say about you.
Do not give a reference's information if you know they are going to say negative things about you. [You would be surprised at how often this happens!!!]
Sample CV
You can download here a sample CV here in the format that we send to our clients.
It is hard work revamping your CV and may take you many hours, but in the long run the time you spent pays for itself and you will increase your chances of being short-listed for a position.
Good luck!!
1. Write CV
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